Traffic-signal reflector for motor vehicles



May 13, 1930 w. J. sHoEMAKl-:R 1,758,809

TRAFFIC SIGNAL REFLECTOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Feb l0 1928 Hall /igj ff Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED ls'ra'rss WALTER J. SHOEMAKER, F HAMBURG, NEW YORK TRAFFIC- SIGNAL REFLECTOR FOR MOTDR VEHICLES Application filed February 10, 1928. Serial N'o. 253,434.

This invention relates to a traflic signal indicator for motor vehicles.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a trafc signal indicator, of the reflector type, which may be mounted upon the front portion of a motor vehicle, in advance Vof the driver, embodying a reflector arrangement by means of which traffic signal lights in advance of, at either side of, overhead, or to a certain extent to the rear of the vehicle, will be reflected within the vision of the driver.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved traffic signal indicator for motor vehicles, which may be compactly mounted upon or as part of the radiator cap of a motor vehicle; the same being a considerable safety factor for motorists, in that the same is in front of the driver of the vehicle, within the normal line of vision, during driving of the vehicle, and from which traflic lights are reflected.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a perspective view showing the manner in which the improved reflector or indicator is mounted upon the forward portion of an automobile, so that it may reflect a traflic light to the driver of the vehicle, Without the latter shifting his normal gaze to directly observe the trafhc light.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved reflector.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken 10 through the improved indicator.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the improved indicator.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred em- 43 bodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved trafIlc light or signal indicating device, which may consist of a preferably glass reflector B mounted by means C upon a radiator cap D.

The radiator cap D may include a conventional body portion 10, having a depending attaching flange 11 internally screw threaded at l2 for attachment to the screw threaded shank or neck of the radiator. The body l0 of the radiator cap may be apertured at l5.

The reflector B is preferably in the forni of a segment of a sphere, and it is preferably of glass, either transparent or translucent. It may have other shapes than the above, although it is preferred that the external surface will be convex, so that trallic lights may be reflected therein independent of their posi# tions surroundin the reflector. The bottom of' the reflector is mirrored or otherwise provided with a reflecting surface 20. I have found that an excellent arrangement is to' cross-groove the bottom of the reflector B to provide a plurality of uniformly arranged diamond-shaped projections 25, which taper to points 26, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing; the points being disposed bottommost, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

Silvering or otherwise providing a reflecting surface 20 on the outer' surfaces of these diamond-shaped projections 25 produces a novel effect from the top of the reflector B; the effect being that of producing diamondshaped recesses whose walls converge downwardly to a bottom point. Inasmuch as the walls of these recesses are substantially flat it is readily observable that the overhead ray on one wall will be reflected to an opposite Wall and reflected in various directions and of course into the line of vision of the driver.

Other forms and shapes of reflecting surfaces 3 may be provided if desired.

In order to retain the reflector or member B upon the radiator cap D, the means C is screw threaded end 50 extending within the radiator cap, where a nut 51 and lock washer 52 may be applied thereto for clamping the head upon the retainer 45 to hold the same in position. The retainer member or plate 45 is provided with an annular retaining ripg or flange '60, tapered inwardl at 61, in an annular or broken form, to ho d the reilector or member B in position a ainst detachment. It is preferred to provi e some bufing material 70, such as felt, beneath the mirrored surface 20, upon which the reflector B rests to prevent injury thereto incident to vibration, as can readily be understood, and to protect the mirrored surface.

The use of the device is novel, and will be apparent from the foregoing description..

The radiator cap when in place, positions the reflector B in a horizontal plane, so that traffic lights above the horizontal plane independent of their forward or lateral positioning will be reflected therein and the incident rays directed along the line of vision of the driver, without necessitating the shifting of the vision of the driver from the safey line of vision directly forwardly of the vehicle.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1

1 The combination with a motor vehicle and a signal lamp reflector mounted on the forward part of the motor vehicle beyond the windshield, including a reflecting surface for reflecting traffic signal'lamps from the signal lights to the driver, said reflector having an externally convex body facing upwardly, and being provided with a lower reflecting surface, the reflecting surface having a plurality or flat sides disposed in acute angular relation.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle and a signal lamp reflector mounted on the forward part of the motor vehicle beyond the windshield including a reflecting surface for reflecting traic signal lamps from the signal lights to the driver, said reflector having an externally convex body facing upwardly, and being provided with a lower reflecting surface, said reflecting surface comprising a plurality of substantially diamond-shaped peaked projections having substantially flat mirrored reflecting sides.

3. In an automobile radiator cap the combination of a cap body, a reflector mounted on the top thereof providing a reflecting surface facing upwardly, the reflecting surface being formed of a plurality of diamondshaped bottom projections of a peaked nature having substantially flat sides provided with mirrored surfaces.

WALTER J. SHOEMAKER. 

